Managing Arthritis: Strategies to Slow Disease Progression

According to Medicare.com, arthritis is wear and tear on cartilage that allows bones to glide smoothly against one another. Arthritis is most common in joints such as the fingers, back vertebrae, knees, hips, shoulders and elbows. Though there is no specific cure for arthritis, you may be able to stop its progression using rest, ice, immobilization, heat, medication and exercise.

Things You'll Need

• Brace or splint

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Instructions

Treating Arthritis

• 1

  Rest your joint for several days after an arthritis flare-up. During this time, wear a brace or splint on the affected joint to prevent aggravation of your arthritis.Take two ibuprofen or naproxen every 4 to 6 hours throughout the day.

• 2

  Put ice in an ice pack or inside a hand towel. Strap or tie the ice pack or hand towel around your joint so the ice is compressed directly against the source of pain. Keep the ice on the joint for 15 to 20 minutes. Repeat every 3 to 4 hours while you are awake.

• 3

  Once the initial inflammation is under control, use a heating pad several times per day.

• 4

  About the time you start using a heating pad, have someone massage the affected joint for up to 15 minutes, using gentle strokes.

• 5

  Also, when inflammation has subsided, stretch the muscles surrounding the joint in all directions. For example, if you have finger arthritis, hold your hand vertically (palms facing in) at your side. Slowly bend just the fingers in toward the top of your palm. Hold that position for 15 seconds. Extend your fingers outward and fully stretch them. Hold that position for 15 seconds. Do 10 repetitions each way. Repeat several times per day.